Dymitr Łabyk successfully undertook many missions to seize ammunition. He encouraged his friends to organize and arm a division to defend themselves and defend the people living in the village. In these uncertain and frightful times, while in hiding, Łabyk and Wodzik undertook attacks through the summer. The occupying force (German Army) felt very strong in this area. The German Army performed acts of terrorism on the Lemko villages. It became apparent that the Lemkos must defend themselves. In a great secrecy a group of the most active villagers met, this time with Wodzik and Łabyk among them, and created the Anti-Hitler Lemko Resistance Committee, with its own armed staff representatives in the field. This way on 27 August 1940 the first Lemko armed underground resistance unit came into being, among those who joined were:

1. Stefan Malcew

Myscowa

organizer of armed partisan actions

2. Grzegorz Wodzik

Myscowa

in charge of outside contacts

3. Dymitr Łabyk

Myscowa

in overall charge of the entire Lemko Resistance Movement

4. Jerzy Malcew

Myscowa

staff commander

5. Dymitr Szkwir

Myscowa

responsible for reconnaissance

6. Piotr Lukaszczyk

Myscowa

head of diversion

7. Jan Dochtor

Myscowa

in charge of munitions

8. Grzegorz Jawylak

Zyndranowa

in charge of actions in the territory

9. Andrzej Zawijski

Korolyk Woloski

vicinity of Rymanow

10. Seman Smereczynski

Krosno

in charge of work in the territory

11. Stefan Szkymba

Banica

gather intelligence in local area

12. Piotr Boryk

Desznica

gather intelligence in local area

13. Stefan Pihosz

Hrab and Wyszowatka

gather intelligence in local area

14. Seman Vasylec

Perehrymka

gather intelligence in local area

15. Lukasz Kityk

Brezowa

gather intelligence in local area

16. Michał Bankowski

Mshana

gather intelligence in local area

17. Michał Dral

Tresciana

gather intelligence in local area

18. Teodor Rusynko

Myscowa

committee member

19. Stefan Dochtor

Myscowa

committee member

20. Paraska Beskidniak

Myscowa

committee member

21. Vasyl Tymyk

Myscowa

committee member

22. Andrzej Hubyk

Zyndranowa

committee member

Strict discipline was maintained in the committee. All were told that any mistake could result in their death from the police or the gestapo. Their main objective was local sabotage. On their first assignment they managed to spill the diesel fuel from two railroad tanks standing on a spur in Rymanow. They succeeded in disarming one guard but failed to set it ablaze, because Zawijski, Łabyk and Stefan Malcew were spotted and had to flee. Shots were fired in their directions by the Germans.

All the members of Ruch Oporu (underground resistance group) were vigilant in observing local actions of the Germans. However, they were not able to protect themselves completely. The first incidents of arrests occurred in the spring of 1940, which were based on written records prepared before WW II by the Polish police and military security. Several men from Myscowa, thought to be pro-communists, were picked up but were later released because it was not demonstrated that these men associated with the communists. In the fall of 1940 a second wave of arrests took place. From Myscowa the gestapo arrested Stefan Malcew along with his sons-Leon and Mikolaj, Dymitr Slabczak and Grzegorz Wodzik. While driven to an iterrogation, Wodzik guessing what the outcome of a second arrest will be, managed to escape. The others were shipped to the concentration camp in Auschwitz from which they never returned.

The winter of 1940/1941 had passed quite peacefully along with the spring months, even though it was more difficult to move from village to village. The people were amazed by the enormous size of the German army. Finally the news spread. Germany invaded Russia. On 21 June 1941, the German divisions, which were overcrowded in the mountains, began their long march toward Russia. Dimitr Łabyk gathered his supporters along with the Ruch Oporu committee. A decision was made to put together a larger unit of armed partisans.

So it can be said that the first formation of armed partisan units, made up solely of Lemkos, came into existence in early June 1941. The members of this unit were: Grzegorz Wodzik -from that time using a nickname "Wyscig" (to race), (this nickname was used in many official publications dealing with PPR (Polish Workers' Party) and GL (Gwardia Ludowa/People's Guard) in the region of Podkarpacie), Jurko Malcew - the third son of Stefan Malcew, Teodor Tyrpak, Vasyl Tymyk, Dymitr Szkwir, Teodor Rusynko, Andrzej Zawijski – with a nickname "Jarecki", Grzegorz Jawylak from Zyndranowa and Dymitr Łabyk.
This unit took a name of "Borci za svobodu", which means "Fighters for Freedom". Dymitr Łabyk became the head of this unit and he was the one who administered an oath to others, which consisted of "faith to and defense of the Carpatho-Rusyn people". Within days this unit was joined by Stefan Pihosz from Hrab, Szkymba from Banytsia and Seman Smereczynski from Krosno. From this moment on all were subject to a military discipline, for treason - a bullet from one of your own, and if caught - a bullet from the occupying forces. Commander Dymitr Łabyk assumed a nickname "Bolshoi". Few days prior to the swearing in ceremony, a declaration aimed to the inhabitants of this Carpathian region was prepared, and was widely disseminated through the Lemko villages.
Publication and dissemination of these leaflets amounted automatically of being subject to a death sentence from the authorities. It was written in Russian, and its intent was to appear to the Germans, that it was generated by leaders of several locally stationed units of soviet partisans.

Page 28.

Among those who became arrested were Aleksandra and Jaroslaw Wislocki. Aleksandra died in 1943 in a gestapo prison in Jaslo, torn apart by gestapo dogs (her suffering and horrible death is documented by Nestor Zylycz in the publication Carpatho Rusyn, Number 21 and 27in 1995 - J.Z.).

Our own partisans could not even sleep in peace. Grzegorz Wodzik also took action. In his own way or means he placed his own people inside the police–the Ukrainians in Krampna and Poles in Dukla. On many occasions important information was passed into "the forest" about conditions in the territory. With this advantage the couriers, as they were called, benefitted. These couriers were boys thirteen to fifteen years of age from the village of Myscowa. They were taught to distinguish their own people from the police or partisans. For example, the couriers would observe the behavior of the servicemen when the servicemen would visit (Mr.) Sardyga, the game warden in Myscowa who responsible for that stretch of River Wislok. At times when the servicemen walked in front of the house with their rifles on their right shoulder with the barrels pointing down, the couriers would approach them and obtain intelligence information which was passed to Wodzik or Łabyk. These two Ukranian police officers would not only bring a list of names of those who were to be arrested but would also report on the availability of ammunition. These two Ukranian police officers, Ilko Hryckowian from Bereska, and Stefan Romcio from Uscie Ruskie saved many Lemkos from death. Ilko Hryckowian was made an officer in the Ukranian Insurgent Army (UPA) where he continued to fight for his convictions. During one skirmish, when he learned that on the other side was the Polish army and not the UB (Security Agency responsible for monitoring and suppressing anti-government sentiments and activities), he witheld fire. He did not want to fight the Polish army. He died in the torture chambers of UB in Rzeszow, in November 1947. (J.Z.)
More and more volunteers would join the Lemko partisans. Some had to hide out to save their own lives, not themselves knowing for how much longer; others sought revenge for the murders of their close ones. They were taken in by our unit, even though we were not able to arm them. From Myscowa came:

They were all sworn in. During the same time eight boys, seniors from a grammar school were taken in as couriers and for reconnaissance work, six of them died performing their missions. Two had survived, one of them was Jan Fudżak from Myscowa.

The partisans tried to gather as much intelligence information as possible. They also had to pass on the gathered information to others. The young boys were used to convey this information. They would travel through the most difficult police patrols. They would convey to these individuals very critical information; these people were informed that they were going to be arrested and that they must go into hiding; for if they were not informed in time, they would most likely die in a concentration camp. In the process of saving lives, several of these young people lost their own life. That is how fifteen year old Piotr Beskidniak died, crossing the border carring intelligence information. Three others: Dymitr Dyn, Stefan Jankowycz, and Piotr Chac, died in the village of Bodaki near Gorlice. Carrying information back and forth, they were always extremely exhausted and hungry. Tricked by the town mayor Fryncka (a Lemko) and his neighbor, Michał Chomkowycz, the young men were promised food and a place to rest but were subsequently locked up in the barn. The German field police was informed; the police tortured these boys for three days, then the boys were taken to the swamps at the entrance to the village and executed--this is also part of Lemko history.

As the winter of 1941/1942 approached, the entire unit went into deep hiding. Gregorz Wodzik was hiding out in the most secret places to avoid falling into the hands of the police. His hideouts were at the Pejko's house in the village of Klopitnycia, at the Zawijski's house in the village of Korolyk Volos'kyj and at the Drala's house in the village of Terstjana.

Page 66.

The End of the Partisan Epic

The Lemko partisan staff knew their activities have come to an end. On January 25th, 1945 all of the group commanders gathered in Barvinok at the local Russian command post, where they handed over to the Russian major in command all of their documents, all their reports regarding the roles they took performing diversionary actions and during battles. They then gathered at the home of Ivan Szkwir, in the village of Myscowa with a loaf of captured but stale bread on the table. A decision was made to disband. Out of a large group of partisans from Lemkovyna, under the name of Borci za swobodu (Fighters For Freedom) who undertook many battles in five years, and at times numbered approximately 300 men, but now around the farewell table there were only few of them present. Some left earlier with Major "Leonid" and the rest went with the unit headed by Colonel Kwitynski heading for The Dukla Pass.

This is how this epic ends, about a group of people who fought for their freedom and survival. The group fought this terrible war hoping that someday it might live in peace and harmony in its own homes and land.

My reflections: The Lemko partisan unit under the name of Borci za swobodu, was an armed organization, and the one and only fighting unit which came into existence in the long history of the Lemko people. They were well organized, just like any other army with its own chain of command, own leader with rank of a captain and its own documentation. This single independent Lemko unit without any formal army uniforms has been documented for their actions and operations as an armed military unit during WWII. (J.Z.)

Jan Fudżak: -I can never forget about those who partook in this five-year struggle against our enemy for the liberation of the Lemko land and a free country in which they lived. They are:

Konstanty Malynowski

He was a division leader; he relocated to the USSR; later he became a professor of botanical sciences in Lviv.

Piotr Lukaczyk

He was one of the most courageous leaders in the field of reconnaissance; along with his brother Michael, they captured two German bunkers on the front line, along with a crew of seventeen men. He lives and works on a co-operative farm near Ternopil.

Page 67.

Dymitr Szkwir

He was the chief of reconnaissance, maintained documentation about our unit. Participated in many armed actions.

Jan Dochtor

He was responsible for acquiring arms and ammunition. After deportations, he became a chairman of a co-operative farm in Chodaczkiv.

Stefan Pihosz

He was born in Hrab

died near the village of Krywa, which is located near Gorlice.

Vasyl Tymyk,

from Myscowa

Very active in acquiring intelligence information. Quite often he would undertake reconnaissance missions disguising himself dressing up as a young lady from Lemkovyna. He was assigned to the "Gotwald" brigade which was under the leadership of Colonel Kwitynskiego in August 1944. He fought to the conclusion in the Slovak uprising where for his bravery he received several medals. He was also presented with a souvenir pistol to keep for the rest of his life. When he returned to Myscowa, his family was no longer there. He was immediately arrested by the new Polish regime for serving in the foreign (Slovak) army, his souvenir pistol was taken away from him and instead he was thrown into a jail. He was tortured at a jail in Sanok, but managed to escape barefoot in winter during extreme cold and snow. He succeeded in reaching Ukraine, where he located his family. After his escape from the prison, the UB and KBW (Polish internal security police which investigated crimes against the state) collected the remaining Lemkos living in Myscowa, undressed and beat them into unconsciousness, questioning them as to where Tymyk was hiding. Currently Tymyk is living in Sambor. His father, John Tymyk, who was also a partisan, was murdered by the Germans in Krampna.

Teodor Posypanko,

He was the head responsible for the front line diversion and my immediate superior.

He lived in Myscowa by himself in the hopes of bringing back his Myscowa family from their place of exile deep in the USSR. After the war, he was deprived of all his belongings by the activities of the Gorlice/Jaslo units of the UB. He died during the 1980's under strange circumstances.

Page 68.

Vasyl Czulyk

from the village of Dowhe

Commander of intelligence, lives in Lviv.

Dymitr Repak

from Myscowa

He was captured and taken to a work camp in Linz, in German occupied Austria. Upon his return to the village of Myscowa, Poles arrested him and he was jailed in the Jaworzno cocentration camp. Currently living in Myscowa.

Page 72.

Jan Fudżak.
One of few surviving partisans, members of partisan unit Borci za swobodu. His participation in the war started when he was thirteen years old, just a boy. In the beginning he was a courier and gathered intelligence. Later he became a full fledged partisan in Borci za swobodu. In 1945 he was deported to the USSR . He escaped from Donbas back to his native region. Stayed in hiding protected by the former members of the Polish AK (Armia Krajowa--Polish partisans working for the Polish government in exile in London , one of several groups of partisans whose objective was to reestablish the pre-WW II Poland). His biography deserves a separate book. Deported again, this time to western Poland, (10 years later) he returns to the area from which his family originated. There he struggles with what fate has dealt him. He has been awarded military medals by Czechoslovakia and the USSR.

Page 73.

To those already mentioned by name I would also like to recognize numerous, very familiar names of those days, heroes of those days, among them were: Colonel Wiaczeslaw Kwitynski, Gregory Wodzik, nicknamed "Wyscig", Andrzej Zawijski, nicknamed "Jarecki", Wojciech Kosiba, nicknamed "Piotr",–the one Pole who even in the most difficult times for the Lemkos, never abandoned them. Maybe somewhere out there on the cooperative farms are surviving Vasyl Chomiak, Jan and Olena, Michał Szkwir, Teodor Tyrpak, Jozef Banycki, Konstanty Kostyk, from Dosznycia, family Dralowie from Tersciana, Andrzej Hubyk from Zandranowa. Maybe these individuals and those that I can no longer recall will reminisce about the battles for our survival, here, on our soil. Let them remember that the land of the Lemkos awaits them, sometimes overgrown with vegetation and not cultivated, but this is their land, their mountains, their rivers and their roadside crosses and chapels, their wooden "tserkvas" and cemeteries, they all remain witnesses to their ancestral heritage – these people will continue to exist as long as memories of them continue to survive.

I would also like to give homage and recognize those who died from the enemy's bullets, those who were murdered in the concentration camps, those who were jailed, and those who died by other means.

Memory eternal!

Page 74-76.
List of names of Lemkos who died during WW II from an area around Myscowa....

1. Aleksander Burdow

Russian prisoner from Buchenwald, died on the hill named Dziurdz.

2. Piotr Barna

Myscowa

died in the uprising in Slovakia

3. Lukaz Baligrodzki

Myscowa

died in battle

4. Michał Baligrodzki

Myscowa

died in Germany

5. Oryna Baligrodzki

Myscowa

executed by the Russians in Krampna

6. Seman Baligrodzki

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

7. Piotr Baligrodzki

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

8. Jan Baligrodzki

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

9. Andrzej Barna

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

10. Stefan Brendzia

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

11. Mikolaj Brelo

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

12. Marta Bakan

Myscowa

executed by the Germans

13. Jozef Banycki

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

14. Piotr Beskidniak

Myscowa

died while crossing the front line

15. Paraska Beskidniak

Myscowa

Piotr's mother, died on the front

16. Terentij Cichon

Myscowa

died in a battle

17. Dymitr Cyha

Myscowa

died in the village of Romaniwka from a Ukrainian bullet,
not too far from Ternopil

18. Anna Dochtor

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

19. Dymitr Decak

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

20. Aleksander Decak

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

21. Piotr Decak

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

22. Stefan Dobrowolsky

Myscowa

died in Germany for sabotage

23.Dymitr Dyn

Myscowa

died at the age of 14 in Bodaky

24. Seman Fudżak

Myscowa

murdered by the SS

25. Andrzej Fornal

Myscowa

died in a battle

26-29. Fornal with three children

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

30. Stefan Frycki

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

31. Piotr Fecina

Myscowa

former partisan, died during the war
as a soldier in the Red Army.

32. Pawel Fecina

Myscowa

died on the front line near Berlin

33. Vasyl Gres

Myscowa

disappeared within the USSR

34. Jan Haras, son of Pawel

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

35. Jan Haras,
son of Seman

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

36. Pawlo Horodin

Rostow

POW, later partisan,
died in the uprising in Slovakia

37. Hryr Jawylak

Zyndranowa

died in the uprising in Slovakia

38. Stefan Jankowycz

Myscowa

at the age of 14, died in Bodaky

39. Ewa Jankowycz

Myscowa

executed by the Germans in Myscowa

40. Vasyl Kapral

Myscowa

executed by the Germans in Zmigrod

41. Seman Kityk

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

42. Andrzej Kityk

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

43. Vasyl Kuk

Myscowa

died in the battle at Myscowa

44. Josyf Kozyniowski

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

45-48. Kozyniowski fam.

Myscowa

Josyf's wife with three children,
from an exploding shell

49. Stefan Kielo

Myscowa

died from UPA bullets in Tarnopil

50. Dymitr Kielo

Myscowa

died in Germany

51-52. Fedor Łabyk
and daughter

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

53. Jan Lazoryk

Myscowa

shot in Myscowa
by the Ukrainian/German policeman Rusynko

54. Dymitr Lazoryk

Myscowa

died outside of Berlin

55. Stefan Malcew

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

56. Leon Malcew

Myscowa

Stefan's son, murdered in Auschwitz

57. Mikolaj Malcew

Myscowa

Stefan's son, murdered in Auschwitz

58. Jurko Malcew

Myscowa

Stefan's son, died in the uprising in
Slovakia near Banska Bystryca

59. Pajza Makuch

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

60. Michał Makuch

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

61. Matrona Makuch

Myscowa

executed by the Germans in Krampna

62. Hryc Nestoriak

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

63. Maria Orszak

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

64. Konrad Orszak

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

65. Lyszczarska

Myscowa

murdered by the Germans

66. Maksym Posypanko

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

67. Vasyl Posypanko

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

68. Maria Posypanko

Myscowa

died, buried in an exploding bunker

69. Ewa Posypanko

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

70. Ewa Mikolajczyk

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

71. Michał Repak

Myscowa

died in Germany

72. Fedor Rusynko

Myscowa

shot by the Gestapo in Myscowa

73. Konrad Rewak

Myscowa

shot by the SS

74. Pawlo Borodin

Russian partisan, member of Dymitr Łabyk unit,
died in the uprising of Slovakia

75. Hryc Sysak

Myscowa

shot by armed Polish thieves/bandits in Myscowa

76. Onufry Sysak

Myscowa

at the age of 14 died in Myscowa

77. Maria Sysak

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

78. Stefania Soroka

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

79. Stefan Sysak

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

80. Jan Solenko

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

81. Jan Sagan

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

82. Hryc Slabczak

Myscowa

died from an UPA bullet in Ukraine

83. Jan Slabczak

Myscowa

died from an UPA bullet in Ukraine

84. Dymitr Slabczak

Myscowa

murdered in Auschwitz

85. Stefan Szkymba

Banica

died in battle at Swierzowa Ruska

86. Teodor Tyrpak

Myscowa

murdered by the gestapo in Rzeszow

87. Jab Tymyk

Myscowa

executed in Krampna

88. Iwan Tiutiunow

Russia

partisan, member of Łabyk's unit;
died in the battle at Swierzowa Ruska

89. Maria Chomycz

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

90. Piotr Chac

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

91-92. Chac, Piotr's wife
and child

Myscowa

shot by the Germans

93. Hryc Wodzik

Myscowa

murdered by [Polish] bandits

94. Andrzej Zawijski

Korolyk Woloski

murdered along with Wodzik near Folusz

95. Marta Zawada

Myscowa

died in Myscowa

96. Fedor Zdzieba

Myscowa

died in Germany

97. Michał Zdzieba

Myscowa

died in Germany

Many, many Lemko graves are scattered all over the world. Many graves and cemeteries are scattered over Lemkovyna - even though many of the people buried on this land have been forgotten. One such forgotten cemetery is in the village of Skalnik near Zmigrod, where in 1944/1945, the Germans buried a few hundred of their own soldiers. This cemetery was plowed right after the war and now there is no trace to indicate that it was there. The dead are silent. Perhaps the farmer simply needed the land to farm, rather than a cemetery?! Everyone, my friends and adversaries, were offerings to this cruel war.

Memory eternal!

With these words Jan Fudżak ended his remembrance of the war.

Comments by the author, Jaroslaw Zwolinski: Description of the partisan struggle is scarce. That is why the material dealing with the struggle by the members by the partisan unit Borci za swobodu as presented by a long-time resident of the village of Krampna - Michał Kobelak in Karpatska Rus, number 14/1995, dated July 7, 1995, page 5, published in the U.S.A, is so precious.

We are ending the memoirs of the Lemko partisans just so the reader may present the ongoing struggles of the Lemko people with the adversaries of their destiny. (J.Z.)